gombeen
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of gombeen
1860–65; < Irish gaimbín interest, especially exorbitant interest, literally, bit, small piece, diminutive of gamba lump, hunk
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This poor innocent was charging just 60 per cent., but his terms were lavishly liberal as compared with those of the gombeen man.
From Disturbed Ireland Being the Letters Written During the Winter of 1880-81. by Bernard H. Becker
The instalment was a very small one, but it was at once discounted by the gombeen man, whose rate of interest enabled him to run extraordinary risks.
From Disturbed Ireland Being the Letters Written During the Winter of 1880-81. by Bernard H. Becker
Paddy, full of desire to banish the brooding discouragement from the room, hastened to repeat the words of the gombeen man.
From What's the Matter with Ireland? by Ruth Russell
But the gombeen man presented him with a bill for twenty-one shillings and three pence.
From What's the Matter with Ireland? by Ruth Russell
The arts as well as the crafts, the graces equally with the utilities must stand up in the marketplace and be judged by the gombeen men.
From The Crock of Gold by James Stephens
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
